Assessment

Continuous Assessment: 40% (Essay and Tutorials) End of Semester Examination: 60%

Module Aims

The aim of this module is to familiarize students with the Catholic Church’s ecumenical and inter-religious engagement. More particularly, the module (i) covers the key ecclesiological and theological principles which guide Catholic dialogue and (ii) explores in some depth certain ecumenical and inter-religious dialogues (E.g., Catholic – Jewish dialogue, Catholic – Lutheran dialogue etc.).  

Texts to be read (include, but are not limited to):

Lumen Gentium 1-17

Unitatis Redintegratio

Nostra Aetate

Ut Unum Sint

Dialogue and Proclamation

Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification

Learning Outcomes

• — Explain the difference between Ecumenism and Inter-religious dialogue.
• — Explain how dialogue, both ecumenical and inter-religious, is compatible with fundamental Catholic ecclesiological principles.
• — Explain how the dogmatic axiom Extra ecclesiam nulla salus is to be understood.
• — Explain some of the historical factors that led to divisions among Christians.
• — Discuss some of the key doctrinal and religious differences between Catholics and other Non-Catholic Christians and non-Christians.
• — Explain the different modes of dialogical activity, including spiritual, charitable, doctrinal, and ‘receptive’ ecumenism.
• — Differentiate between inclusivist, pluralist, and exclusivist approaches to inter-religious dialogue.
• — Give detailed examples of some of the fruits or breakthroughs of ecumenical and inter-religious dialogues.